List of Cricketers Banned for Life: The Complete Guide to Cricket Corruption Bans

The specter of corruption has cast a long shadow over international cricket, leading to the ultimate punishment for several prominent players: a lifetime ban from cricket. This ongoing battle for integrity was recently highlighted by the case of USA batter Aaron Jones, who was provisionally suspended in early 2026 and charged with five breaches of anti-corruption codes by the ICC and Cricket West Indies, underscoring that the threat remains ever-present. This article provides a comprehensive, factual overview of the cricketers banned for life due to their involvement in historic match-fixing and spot-fixing scandals. We document their careers, the reasons for their bans, and the enduring impact on the sport’s integrity.

Understanding these cases is crucial for fans and stakeholders advocating for clean sport. Below is a complete list of cricketers banned for corruption who received lifetime sanctions from official authorities.

List of Cricketers Banned for Life

Player Name	Country	Year of Ban	Primary Reason for Ban	Banning Authority
Saleem Malik	Pakistan	2000	Match-fixing; bribing players	Justice Qayyum Inquiry / PCB
Mohammad Azharuddin	India	2000	Match-fixing allegations	BCCI
Ajay Sharma	India	2000	Implicated in match-fixing scandal	BCCI
Hansie Cronje	South Africa	2000	Accepting bribes, match-fixing	UCBSA / ICC
Danish Kaneria	Pakistan	2012	Spot-fixing in county match	ECB
Lou Vincent	New Zealand	2014	Spot-fixing in county cricket	ECB

1. Saleem Malik

A gifted Pakistani batsman and captain, Saleem Malik’s legacy was forever tarnished when he became the first player to be banned from all cricket for match-fixing in 2000. Justice Qayyum’s inquiry found him guilty. Notably, Australian stars Shane Warne and Mark Waugh testified that Malik tried to bribe them to lose a Test in Karachi in 1994-95. Despite appeals, his lifetime ban was upheld for years before being lifted by a lower court after a seven-year legal wait.

2. Mohammad Azharuddin

For many, Mohammad Azharuddin was a batting artist, scoring centuries in his first three Tests—a record that still stands. He captained India with success and finished his career with 99 Tests. However, allegations of match-fixing provided an emphatic full stop. The BCCI handed him a life ban in 2000. While he appealed the decision and later entered politics, the verdict on his appeal was still awaited.

3. Ajay Sharma

Ajay Sharma was a prolific run-machine in Indian domestic cricket, averaging a staggering 67.46 for Delhi. His international career was limited, but his name was etched in infamy when he received a life ban from cricket in 2000 after being implicated in a match-fixing scandal. In a later turn, a Delhi district court cleared him of all charges in 2014, and he subsequently requested the BCCI reinstate him.

4. Hansie Cronje

Perhaps the most infamous name on this list, South African captain Hansie Cronje’s admission of taking bribes exploded as a global scandal in 2000. A revered leader who captained in 53 Tests and 138 ODIs, his confession exposed deep corruption. He admitted to receiving around $140,000 from bookmakers, attempting to lure teammates like Herschelle Gibbs and Henry Williams to underperform, and engineering the contrived forfeiture in a Test against England. The ICC lifetime ban ended his career. Tragically, he died in a plane crash in 2002.

5. Danish Kaneria

Danish Kaneria, Pakistan’s highest wicket-taking spinner with 276 international wickets, saw his career end due to a spot-fixing case. In 2012, the ECB found him guilty of corruption for underperforming in a 2009 Pro40 match while playing for Essex. His teammate, Mervyn Westfield, pleaded guilty. This lifetime ban from the ECB effectively concluded his professional playing days.

6. Lou Vincent

New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent took the unique step of issuing a stark public confession. “My name is Lou Vincent and I am a cheat,” he stated. In 2014, the ECB charged him on 14 offences and gave him a life ban for spot-fixing in county cricket. He also pleaded guilty to seven charges related to fixing in the Champions League. Vincent acknowledged his depression but did not use it as an excuse for his actions, stating he had “abused the game.”

Understanding the “Why”: Reasons for Lifetime Ban in Cricket

A lifetime ban in cricket is the most severe disciplinary action, reserved for the gravest integrity violations. As seen in these cases, the primary reasons for a lifetime ban are:

• Match-Fixing: Influencing the outcome of a match.
• Spot-Fixing: Corruptly influencing a specific event within a match (e.g., a no-ball, a specific over).
• Accepting Bribes from bookmakers for information or actions.
• Failure to Report approaches by corrupt elements.

These actions breach the ICC Anti-Corruption Code and destroy public trust, justifying the permanent removal from all sanctioned cricket.

FAQs

Q: How many cricketers are banned for life?
At least six prominent international cricketers have received lifetime bans from their boards or the ICC for corruption-related offences: Saleem Malik, Mohammad Azharuddin, Ajay Sharma, Hansie Cronje, Danish Kaneria, and Lou Vincent.

Q: Can a lifetime ban be removed in cricket?
Yes, in rare cases. The bans for Saleem Malik and Ata-ur-Rehman were lifted by courts after lengthy appeals. Ajay Sharma was also cleared by a court. However, such reversals are complex and do not guarantee reinstatement by the sporting board.

Q: Who is the most famous cricketer banned for life?
Hansie Cronje, the former South African captain, is arguably the most famous due to the scale of the scandal, his senior leadership role, and the global shock his confession caused.

Q: What is the difference between spot-fixing and match-fixing?
Match-fixing involves illegally determining the final result of a match. Spot-fixing involves corruptly pre-determining a specific, smaller event within a match (like the runs scored in an over), which may not affect the final result.

Q: What happens after a lifetime ban in cricket?
A banned player cannot participate in any official cricket matches, coaching, or administration recognized by the ICC or its member boards. They may pursue legal appeals, as seen in several cases, or move into completely different professions.

                                               

Relevant news